Page 20 - Spring 21

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Phosphorus patient will assume Lise is a new friend; others may look to hide, or stay close to the owner. How many minutes a cat takes to come out of a box is telling. But the first few minutes can provide valuable observations.
Questioning the carer – Lise says owners are usually happy to talk about their pet. She explores what is unique/different/ defining about the patient. It can be easier if the carer has other pets, or has had in the past, to give a comparison. A useful invitation to the owner is simply “Tell me about Fido”
Examine the patient – while assessing response to being physically handled.
Analysis – Lise classes skin dis-ease as “the ultimate constitutional issue”, so does not use skin rubrics in repertorisation, describing her approach as “down to earth, constitutional and classical.”
If the patient is not on suppressive drugs, the ideal initial dose of constitutional remedy is to give it until it works. Not all owners want, or can handle that, so she often advises to give daily for 7-10 days. If there is a dramatic improving, then stop, if not sure, keep going a few days more. If there is any worsening after 3 days, the owner will make contact, the remedy will be stopped, but this does not happen often in Lise’s experience. She is not scared of aggravation, which stops as the remedy stops, nor is she scared of overdosing.
The second consultation is such an important one, comparing each observation to first time, taking into account carers’ written observations. If there has been an improvement after 3 weeks, it may show that the remedy has been right but needs a higher potency. Lise presented the following cases to illustrate.
18
Cases
Bonnie 4y.o., intact male Bishon Havanez
Started itching at 1 y.o., had lots of steroids, immunotherapy every 3 weeks for ages. Fastidious, wouldn’t walk through a puddle, hot, generally mild mannered, “only growls if picked up”, but can be aggressive to other dogs. Not bothered about food, not a lap dog, preferring to be left alone. In consult room, he lay by the door on the cold tiled floor, quietly, not starting any contact. He was slightly tense on physical examination, but no threat, tolerated it.
Lise didn’t need to repertorise this case to
prescribe Nat Mur 200 C, to which he responded after 2 doses. Following return of symptoms, two doses were repeated 2 weeks later, then 6 weeks later, then 10 weeks after that. When symptoms reappeared 10 weeks later, the potency was increased to 1 M. This held for 14 months, when 1 M was repeated. It didn’t hold so long this time so, 9 months later gave 10 M, since when case has been resolved.
Lise felt this patient was clearly a Nat Mur constitution. She emphasised how important it is to take time to explain treatment is going to take time, so carers persist with treatment and don’t give up.
‘Buster’ 6y.o.Golden Retriever male
Constant hotspot on side of neck for 5 months; had been on antibiotics 5 months. Friendly, calm, uncomplicated, hot, and hungry. Sulphur 30 C cleared it within one week; all was ok at follow up one month later. Lise does not use a miasmatic or bowel nosode unless it is the constitutional remedy.
Buster
‘Sasha’ 18-month-old female Danish Hunting dog
Generalised itching and lack of energy, couldn’t hunt as
she had insufficient protective coat, thyroid function normal. On steroids, no thirst, cuddly, sociable, likes all dogs and all people, sensitive to reprimand, calm. Prescribed Pulsatilla 200 C daily for one month. Good improvement after one month, so steroids were stopped. Continued improving, case resolved completely after 5